- Not to sound like a blob of paint, Dawson, but can we just let this one remain unresolved for now?
- —Joey
Tamara's Return is the 4th episode of Season 2 of Dawson's Creek.
Synopsis[]
EXPRESS YOURSELF – When Joey (Katie Holmes) pursues her natural gift as an artist, a chasm develops between her and Dawson (James Van Der Beek) as he can't relate to this new interest, while Jack (Kerr Smith) displays a new side beyond his lack of waitering skills as a sensitive art lover. Meanwhile, Tamara Jacobs' (guest star Leann Hunley) unexpected return to Capeside throws Pacey (Joshua Jackson) for a major loop just as he and Andie (Meredith Monroe) discover a common ground and move past their sadistic sparring.[1]
Summary[]
Dawson and Joey are making out when Joey starts to have second thoughts. It's hard always having to find a private place for these sessions, and she wonders about the romance of lying on the cement of a park. But then again, she is with Dawson, and his charm surely wins her over.
The next day, Dawson tags along with Mitch before school as Mitch meets a potential seller of some nice restaurant property. Dawson is shocked to discover the owner is Tamara Jacobs, his former teacher and Pacey's ex-fling. At school, Dawson tries to give Pacey the news but Pacey is in too much of a hurry to listen.
Abby drags Jen, who is still moping over Dawson, along for company on a shopping spree. They enjoy themselves and Abby forces Jen to admit that Jen needs her. At lunch, Abby spots a hunk fisherman who introduces himself as Vincent. Despite her shameless flirting, Vincent pays more attention to Jen.
After perusing Andie's video rental choices, Pacey discovers the two share a common bond - the movie "Dumbo". Pacey asks Andie if she wants to hang out after school and she decides it wouldn't be that horrible to agree. On the street however, the two run into Tamara. Pacey is at a loss for words and Andie can sense that something is wrong. Tamara goes as quick as she arrived and Pacey leaves Andie standing there to follow this person of his past.
Joey takes Dawson to an art lecture given by Laura, the interior designer that she previously met. Dawson does not get much out of it, and Joey is disappointed that he seemed to miss the passion that she received from the lecture. Laura invites them to an art class she teaches and Joey decides to give it a try. At the class, Laura praises Joey's drawings, embarrassing her. Joey opens up, telling Laura of her mother's love for art and her untimely death. Laura encourages her to continue in her art and proves herself to Joey as a mentor and a friend.
Andie shows up at Dawson's house unannounced and in a shy round-about way asks if Dawson knows anything about Pacey's female interests. She admits to having feelings for Pacey, but swears Dawson to secrecy. Dawson leaves her with the idea that Pacey could certainly be interested. At the moment though, Pacey's mind is with Tamara. He follows her to the beach and approaches her. It is an awkward situation and they acknowledge it as one. Pacey leaves without much being said, and after further thought decides that he may not be over her.
Dawson rubs Joey the wrong way when he makes light of her art "hobby". Joey decides to go to an art exhibit without him, and instead takes Jack from work. She is surprised to find another side to Jack, an avid art lover himself, and a side she wishes Dawson had. Dawson, trying to make peace, meets her later after the exhibit. Joey doesn't understand the difference in his attitude and begins to think that as much as their relationship has evolved, little has changed. Abby and Jen finally track down Vincent at the docks, and Abby is surprised to find that Vincent doesn't fall for her flirtatious ways. When Jen tries to smooth things over, he makes his pass on her instead. This only makes Abby furious, seeing it as a total betrayal. Abby lashes out on Jen and leaves Jen feeling that she is totally in the wrong.
Joey finds Dawson alone, and has had time to gather her thoughts. She admits that she doesn't know how she feels, but she knows that both art and Dawson are incredibly important to her life. She hands Dawson a picture that she drew and he is touched to see it is a portrait of him. Joey lets him know that she wasn't fighting him, she was fighting herself; and she's going to need some time to let that fight play out.
Pacey comes back to Tamara and tries to share his feelings. They both realize they are in different places now and that any relationship they had is now over. He gets his feelings out, but leaving is hard. They both share one last kiss before she pushes him away.
Pacey, relieved to have some closure, finds Andie alone at a café. He joins her, teasing her into admitting that she might have had some feelings for him, but she insists they are long gone. Pacey looks out the window and watches Tamara go. He knows he can let Tamara go now, and as he turns to his company he realizes that letting Andie go might be a different story.[2]
Starring[]
- James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery
- Katie Holmes as Joey Potter
- Michelle Williams as Jen Lindley
- Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter
- John Wesley Shipp as Mitch Leery
- Nina Repeta as Bessie Potter
- Special Guest Stars
- Meredith Monroe as Andie McPhee
- Kerr Smith as Jack McPhee
- Monica Keena as Abby Morgan
- Leann Hunley as Tamara Jacobs
- Guest starring
- Joe Flanigan as Vincent
- Tamara Taylor as Laura Weston
Quotes[]
- You've been everything to me. And I have been your sidekick, your confidant, your other half for so long and that's how our relationship works. And it's a nice place for you, but for me it's scary. Cause I realized that aside from you, I don't have anything. My entire life is attatched to you
- —Joey
- I got rejected. It hurts. And to make matters worse...that whole Dawson-Joey-Pacey troika - I just hate being on the outskirts of it, you know. I mean, I used to fit in
- —Jen
- Shopping for me is like deep sea diving. It’s dangerous and it’s exciting. And if I do it alone I may never come up for air. Please don’t let me go by myself. I could drown in sea of dresses and hair gel
- —Abby
- Dawson, why is it that your obsession with movies is a life passion while my interest in art is a hobby?
- —Joey
Locations[]
- The Ruins
- Capeside High School
- Dawson's House
- Tamara's House
- The Icehouse
- Capeside Museum of Art
- Capeside Harbor
- Capeside Coffee & Tea Company
Trivia[]
- Joey starts to pull away from Dawson.
- Joey rediscovers her interest in art, inspired by her late mother.
BROADCAST
- The episode was watched by 5.96 million people upon its original airing on the WB.[3]
Films[]
- WATCHED
- —
- REFERENCED
- Dumbo (1941)
- Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
- The Pink Panther (1963)
- The Way We Were (1973)
- Sybil (1976)
- Ghost (1990)
Music[]
- harvest moon | DONNA LEWIS[4]
- dawson and joey make out at the ruins
- breathe | COLONY[5]
- mitch, dawson and tamara
- half as good | ZOE
- abby and jen
- northern lad | TORI AMOS[6]
- joey, dawson and art
- and on a rainy night | SHAWN MULLINS[7]
- pacey & tamara
- each little mystery | SEVEN MARY THREE[8]
- dawson & joey; andie & pacey
Photos[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ "Tamara's Return" official synopsis archived from The WB on dawsons-creek.com
- ↑ Tamara's Return - Official Summary
- ↑ Ratings Ryan — Dawson's Creek (WB): Ratings Recap
- ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "Who We Are" by Brooke Ramel
- ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "A Minute To Ourselves" by The Elms
- ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "Calm" by Jill Cohn
- ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "The Island Song" by Mayfly
- ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "When It Comes Around" by Reed Foehl